Treatment of vulcanized fibers.



- ture, with f latter are @FTGE THOMAS YJEL OF CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

TREATMENT OF VULCANIZED FIBERS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS @YE, a subject of the King of Norway, and residing at Storgaten 28, Ohristiania, Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relatin to the Treatment of Vulcanized Fibers, 0 which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to the treatment of vulcanized fiber and its object is to render the hard plates of vulcanized fiber flexible and supple so that they may be employed as soles for all kinds of footwear, and for numerous andvaried other purposes.

The invention consists in treating the hard plates of vulcanized fiber with a solution of zinc chlorid in water and impregnatingthe fiber with oil.

referably after the plates are impregnated with oil they are treated so as to prevent the oil exuding from the fiber.

The following particulars are given by way' of example to illustrate a suitable nethod of carrying the invention into ef- Plates of-hard vulcanized fiber of a thickness of'from 1 m. m. to about 6 m. m. are exposed in a vessel of suitable size to the action of a solution of zinc chlorid in water. The plates are then completely dried in air, and thereupon impregnated with a mixture. of water and an oil so treated that it is capable of bein mixed with water to form an emulsion such as, for instance, sulfonated castor oil or Turkey red-oil) at a low, steady temperature, and are subsequently impregnated, also at a low temperaan animal or vegetable oil.

After the 'oil adhering to the surface of the plates has been carefully removed, the placed in a bath of melted parafin, in which they remain for some time. When the plates are taken out of this bath,

' the parafin adhering to the surface of the plates is carefully removed, so that it be comes even and smooth.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 241, iltililtfo Application filed November 21, 1916. Serial No. 132,511.

capable of being used as sole leather for footwear of every description, and may be put to numerous other uses in the mechanical and electrical arts.

Having now described my inventiomwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. The method of rendering plates of hard vulcanized fiber flexible and supple which comprises treating the plates with a solution of zinc chlorid in water, impregnating the plates with a mixture of water and oils treated so as to be miscible therewith and form emulsions, and impregnating the plates with a fatty oil.

2. The method of rendering plates of hard vulcanized fiber flexible and supple which comprises treating the platescwith a solution of zinc chlorid, and impregnating the plates with a fatty oil.

3. The method of rendering plates of hard vulcanized fiber which comprises treating the plates with a solution of zinc chlorid, impregnating the plates with a fatty oil and treating the plates with a material adapted to limlt the exudation of the oil.

4. The. method of rendering plates of hard vulcanized fiber flexible and supple which comprises, treating the plates with a solution of zinc chlorid, impregnating the plates with a mixture of water and oil treated so as to be miscible therewith and form an emulsion, impregnating the plates with a fatty oil and treating the plates in a bath of melted paraffin.

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS @YE. 

